Stoke goalkeeper Steve Simonsen admits he was surprised to see Tottenham adopt long-ball tactics during his side’s shock win at White Hart Lane.

Simonsen only stepped in to play 20 minutes before kick-off when No.1 Thomas Sorensen was taken ill during the warm-up.

But he kept Spurs at bay before Glenn Whelan’s late winner sentenced Harry Redknapp’s side to their third defeat of the season.

And, towards the end, Spurs were looking to use Peter Crouch’s height rather than playing through Stoke – a tactic Tony Pulis’ men have been criticised for.

Simonsen said: ‘It is satisfying because we didn’t allow them to pass the ball. We were at them all the time, biting at their heels. They couldn’t move it around the way they wanted to. The fact they went route one in the last 20 minutes was a testament to the way we played.’

However, Spurs will point to the fact they finished with ten men when, having used all their substitutes, Aaron Lennon hobbled off despite Redknapp asking him to play on.

‘It was frustrating we’d used our subs – it was one of those games,’ said Tottenham’s Niko Kranjcar.